Seasonal Refrigerator Maintenance

When your refrigerator goes on the fritz, it’s not something you can put off. More often than not, you’re probably going to scramble to find the nearest refrigeration repair services in hopes that you’ll be able to salvage your groceries. Luckily, with a little bit of TLC and seasonal maintenance, you can avoid those dreaded instances when you open your refrigerator door and not feel that expected blast of cold air.

Why is Seasonal Maintenance Important?

Making sure that your refrigerator is running in tip-top shape involves more than snapping on a pair of rubber gloves and wiping down the insides. Proper seasonal maintenance involves routine checkups from licensed professionals to ensure that all the electrical components are working properly. Never forget that your refrigerator has a ton of small electrical parts and if even just one of them stops functioning, the whole appliance can grind to a halt.

Seasonal maintenance can also involve factors like the temperature of the weather and increased usage. During the summer, for example, soaring temperatures mean that even a single hour of downtime can result in all the food in your refrigerator going to waste. When the holidays come around, many of your activities are likely going to revolve around food, so you want to make sure that your refrigerator can keep up with the additional demand.

Lastly, keep in mind that your refrigerator is an investment! Putting in a little work and money now to provide proper maintenance can save you a lot of headaches and pricey repair bills in the future.

Five Reasons to Provide Seasonal Maintenance

Wasted Food Items

The most obvious problem is your food going bad, from frozen goods to leftovers. When this happens, you’ll need to worry about three things: the cost of replacing the food, the cost of repairing your refrigerator, AND the dirty, stinky job of tossing out all the spoiled food!

Ensuring Food Safety

Improper cooling and storage is the number one reported cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States. When your refrigerator isn’t cooling properly, it’s more than possible that your food turns bad even if the interior feels cold, especially when it comes to leftovers. Cooked food should be kept at or below 40°F, and most homeowners won’t really have a way to measure the interior of their refrigerator. If your refrigerator’s cooling system is malfunctioning, there is a higher chance for bacteria to grow and you can end up eating unsafe food.

Personal and Professional Disruptions

Whether you’re using your refrigerator at home or for a business, a broken refrigerator often means a significant disruption in your daily operations. It’s difficult to plan a meal when you need to worry about storing raw ingredients or leftover food, and no food business can function normally if their refrigerator breaks. Either way, a busted refrigerator results in a loss of time and money.

Energy Loss

A dirty or malfunctioning refrigerator needs to work harder to maintain the proper temperature. When your refrigerator’s coils are clogged, it takes the unit a lot longer to cool. If the heating tube is faulty, the defrost cycle might not work and you’ll end up with blocked vents. Whatever the case, you can expect higher electricity bills if your refrigerator isn’t working properly.

Shorter Lifespan

According to the United States Department of Energy, the average modern refrigerator is designed to last approximately 12 years. However, if you do not apply proper seasonal maintenance, you’ll notice problems popping up in your unit in as early as three or four years of use. Ignoring the small problems early on can even cut the lifespan of your refrigerator by as much as half.

Eight Easy Ways to Provide Seasonal Maintenance for Your Refrigerator

1. Thoroughly Clean and Sanitize the Interior and Exterior

A clean refrigerator is a happy refrigerator! Cleaning your refrigerator is as simple as taking a fresh and soft absorbent cloth and wiping down the accumulated dirt on the exterior, then using a mild detergent and warm water to wipe down the interior shelves and surfaces. Avoid using harsh chemicals that can damage the interior or leave unwanted odors.

For those hard-to-reach spaces, use a soft-bristled brush to remove grime and gunk. Make sure to get into those often-neglected parts such as the ceiling and floor of your refrigerator.

2. Check the Temperature

For optimum performance, set your refrigerator’s temperature setting at 35°F; anything below this threshold can accidentally cause your food to freeze and anything higher than 40°F can allow bacteria and mold to grow. You can invest in a digital thermometer to ensure that your unit is functioning properly and holding the right temperature.

In line with the temperature, you can also strategically place your food items inside. Cold air comes from the vent near the back of your refrigerator, so it tends to be the coldest area. Put perishable items and meats near the back and place fruits and vegetables in the front to prevent them from freezing.

3. Inspect the Seals

Always check your refrigerator’s seal as they keep the cold air inside. Refrigerator seals are often one of the first components to break since they can be damaged through moisture buildup or if someone closes the door a little too forcefully.

Look for any signs of damage including cracks, tears, or breaks. If you find any damaged seals, make sure to replace them as soon as possible, and if your budget allows it, opt for purchasing original door seals to ensure that they fit correctly.

There are times when the damage to door seals isn’t obvious, such as when the gasket along the door rim becomes deformed. Again, purchasing a digital thermometer for your refrigerator can help immensely because you’ll notice that the interior temperature isn’t holding where it is supposed to be.

4. Clear and Clean the Coils

There are two sets of coils that you need to maintain: an evaporator coil inside your refrigerator that absorbs heat and a condenser coil outside that expels the heat. These coils can get covered in dirt and grime, resulting in your refrigerator’s compressor working harder to maintain the unit’s temperature. Over time, the strain can cause your compressor to fail and lead to an expensive replacement job.

Luckily, you can keep your coils clean using these easy steps.

Gather the necessary tools and materials:

Vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
Soft-bristled brush or coil cleaning brush
Compressed air (optional)
Dust mask (optional)

Preparation:

Unplug the refrigerator or turn off the circuit breaker. This is crucial to prevent electrical hazards while working on the appliance.
Locate the condenser coils. The condenser coils are typically found at the back or bottom of the refrigerator, behind a protective grille or panel.
Move the refrigerator away from the wall. This will provide you with enough space to access the coils comfortably.

Cleaning the coils:

Remove the protective grill or panel. This will expose the condenser coils for easy cleaning.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently vacuum the coils. Start from the front and work your way back, removing dust, dirt, and debris.
For stubborn dirt or hard-to-reach areas, use a soft-bristled brush or a coil cleaning brush. Gently brush the coils to loosen any remaining dirt.
If you have compressed air, you can use it to blow away any remaining dust or debris. Be careful not to blast the coils too forcefully, as this could damage them.
Once the coils are clean, replace the protective grille or panel.
Move the refrigerator back to its original position.
Plug in the refrigerator or turn on the circuit breaker.

Additional tips:

Clean the condenser coils at least once a year, or more often if your refrigerator is in a dusty environment.
If you have pets that shed fur, it’s important to clean the coils more frequently.

1. Check the Fan and Motor

The surest way to know whether your refrigerator’s fan and motor are having problems is when you either hear strange noises coming from your unit or if you feel a significant and prolonged increase in the interior temperature. These signs mean that either your fan or motor isn’t functioning properly or the cold air isn’t circulating inside your refrigerator.

If you hear a whirring or clicking sound from your fan, it’s likely an issue with the blades. Over time, the blades can misalign or distort, or there is a buildup of ice around the fan that the blades are striking against. Replace broken or faulty fans as soon as possible.

2. Clear and Clean the Filters and Vents

If you notice a funky smell coming from your refrigerator even after wiping down the interior, the filters and vents may be dirty and need to be cleaned. Before you wipe them down, unplug your unit to prevent electrical shock. Look for the vents (these are typically located at the back or the bottom front of your refrigerator) and remove the vent cover. Use a soft brush, a wet cloth, or a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris from the area.

3. Keep Your Refrigerator Full

We’re not saying that you should cram as much food as you can inside your refrigerator, but keeping it full reduces energy use and helps keep your appliance running in the best shape! Stocking your freezer and your refrigerator reduces the amount of work your compressor needs to maintain the optimum temperature inside. As a rule of thumb, keeping your refrigerator and freezer about ¾ full works best.

4. Keep Your Drip Pan Clean and Empty

One often-overlooked component of many modern refrigerators is the drip pan. Since many units have a “no-frost” mode, a lot of owners neglect checking the drip pan but these refrigerators still produce frost. When the frost melts, the water flows through a drainage system and collects in a shallow pan at the bottom of the refrigerator.

Check your user manual for instructions on how to remove the drop pan. Clean and sanitize the drip pan at least once every three to four months to prevent bacterial growth and unpleasant odors. You should also check whether the drainage hole is clear; pet hair and dust often clog this outlet.

The Bottom Line

If you provide seasonal maintenance for your refrigerator, you can expect years of great service from your appliance! It might seem like a lot of work at first glance, but all of the aforementioned tasks only add around a couple of hours of cleaning and routine checkups throughout the year. Think of it as putting a little bit of love and care and getting a whole lot in return.

Taking proactive steps to care for your refrigerator saves you money, time, and effort in the long run. When you don’t provide seasonal maintenance for your refrigerator, it’s often the small problems you could have spotted early on and fixed that lead to expensive repairs and replacements. By making seasonal maintenance a regular part of your appliance care routine, you can enjoy a cleaner, cheaper, and more functional living space.

So, what are you waiting for? Roll up your sleeves and give your refrigerator the TLC it deserves today!